University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Department: Office of Advancement

Job Title: Executive Strategist for Philanthropic Program Development

Position #: 00844114 – Requisition #: 38637

Job Summary:

The Executive Strategist for Philanthropic Program Development serves as a senior advisor, strategic partner, and hands-on operational leader, personally driving and executing all aspects of program development. This role will be housed in Advancement and report to the Vice Chancellor of Advancement. It will develop strategic plans and programs supporting philanthropic initiatives of $5 million or more, including the CU Anschutz Mental Health Collaborative. This position translates high-impact benefactor visions into sustainable, operational programs that align with the strategic priorities of CU Anschutz, the School of Medicine, and other campus partners.

Operating from a strategic vantage point within the campus, once gifts have been secured, the Executive Strategist for Philanthropic Program Development brings deep School of Medicine expertise in program development and operations —including financial planning and analysis, human resources, data, and technology.  This role fosters trust-based collaboration across academic, clinical, educational, and administrative domains. The role partners with programmatic leaders to evaluate feasibility, monitor progress, and assess outcomes, ensuring decisions are informed by both data and values.

This role will facilitate structured decision-making processes—through project management, independent financial modeling, cost-benefit analysis, and operational strategy—ensuring philanthropic initiatives are not only visionary but executable, scalable, and aligned with the CU Anschutz vision.

Because of the prevalence of gifts at the $5M+ level in the School of Medicine, this position will maintain a deep understanding of the School of Medicine's financial and administrative systems and create synergy between the School of Medicine and the Office of Advancement.   

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Program Planning, Development, & Operational Sustainability

·        Serve as the primary administrative and strategic contact for a portfolio of select gifts of $5M+, including the Mental Health Collaborative and future initiatives.

·        Create and oversee the design and monitoring of actions needed to achieve the operating goals and objectives of the benefactor’s vision for major philanthropic gifts; sustaining a strong reputation for on-time and on-target performance.

·        Lead the design and execution of multi-year strategic plans for key innovation areas funded by major philanthropic gifts.

·        Independently maintain the administrative operationalization to support the successful support of philanthropic program development

·        Translate the School of Medicine and CU Anschutz Mental Health Collaborative vision into clear operational strategies with defined goals, metrics, and milestones.

·        Identify trends, risks, and emerging opportunities to inform strategic and programmatic operations for major philanthropic gifts.

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